The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) is a pinniped found along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America. Dense underfur and longer outer hairs protect the body from cold seas; males are larger than females and have a more robust neck and shoulders. They form communal breeding colonies on rocky shores and islands, and during the breeding season large males compete over territories and multiple females. At sea they feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans, swimming powerfully using their foreflippers. They were once heavily hunted for their fur and oil, but in many areas protection and management have since improved. The current IUCN assessment is Least Concern (LC), though threats include bycatch in fishing gear, marine pollution, and strong El Niño events that reduce prey availability.